Mowing-machine.



M. JEWELL.

MOWING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED NDV. 5, 190a.

Patented Dc.7,1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

camm co PmYa-muoemvuzns. wAsnumon. 0 r.

M. JEWELL. MOWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5. 190B.

Patented Dec. '7, 1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Wi'iness es: Inventor.-

. 1M 45 teweili,

WW ZZZ; b M,

ANDREW. B. GRANAM cow PHOTU-UTHDGHAPNERS, wAsnmaroN, nc

M. J EWELL'.

MOWING MACHINE. APILIOATION FILED NOV. 5. 1908.

Patented Dec. .7, 1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

FIG/messes: Mm k4 M M. J EWELL. MOWING MACHINE. APPLIDATIOR rum) NOV. 5,190a.

Patnted Dec.7,1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

fiwenimr: Martin Elma,

v Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

s snnms-simn'r 5.

z z I I I I Wahwsss: 10 Inventor: m W MarhbuTewelQ 4M2 4am I by m g g M.JEWELL.

MOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1908.

942,07 5. Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

M. JEWELL.

MOWING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1908. 942,075. Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

8 SHBETSSHEET 7.

g Q a 1 Invenwr: Mia/"n Jewei,

Patel lted Dec.7,1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

sr'rs PAT IVIOWING-MACI-IINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

Application filed November 5, 1908. Serial No. 461,241.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN JEWELL, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Clinton, in the county of Kennebec and Stateof Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMowing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mowing machines and has for its object theproduction of a machine in which the operating parts are reduced to aminimum and located adjacent to the finger bar supporting mechanism,thus leaving that portion of the machine at the left of the pole freefrom moving de vices.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction andarrangement of parts which will be readily understood by reference tothe description of the drawings and to the claims hereinafter given.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 represents a plan of a mowing machineembodying the features of thisvinvention, a portion of the finger barand knife bar being broken away. Fig. 2 represents an elevation of thesame with the nearest driving wheel cut away and the finger bar andknife bar cut in section. Fig. 3 represents a plan of the finger barsupporting plate and the fixed plate on which it is movably mounted.Fig. 4 represents an elevation of the same. Fig. 5 represents a verticalsection of the same, the cutting plane being on line 55 on Fig. 4. Fig.6 represents a plan of a portion of the finger bar and its supportingshoe. Fig. 7 represents an elevation of the same. Fig. 8 represents aplan of a portion of the axle bearing and the various levers mountedthereon for tilting and lifting the finger bar. Fig. 9 represents avertical section of the same, the cutting plane being on line 99 on Fig.8. Fig. 10 represents a plan of the pivotal connection of theknife-operating arm and the locking device therefor. Fig. 11 representsan end elevation of the same. Fig. 12 represents a vertical section ofthe same, the cutting plane being on line 1212 on Fig. 10.

on line 13-13 on Fig. 10. Fig. 14 represents an elevation of a portionof the revoluble zigzag wheel and a portion of the swinging knife baroperating arm cooperating Fig. 13 represents a transverse section, thecutting plane being therewith. Fig. 15 represents a section on line 1515on Fig. 14. Fig. 16 represents a plan of the knife bar and the universalconnection secured thereto and cooperating with the free end of theswinging knife bar operating arm. Fig. 17 represents an elevation of thesame. F1g. 18 represents a side elevation of the universal connection.Fig.19 represents a vertical section of the same, the cutting planebeing on line 1919 on Fig. 17. Fig. 20 represents a horizontal sectionof the axle bearing, the driving wheel, the revoluble zigzag wheel andthe ratchets for driving said zigzag wheel. Fig. 21 represents a sectionon line 2121 on Fig. 20, showing a portion of one of the driving wheels,and Fig. 22 represents an elevation of the devices for controlling thetilting of the finger bar.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the several figuresof the drawlngs.

In the drawings, 10 represents the main axle or shaft of a mowingmachine, the ends of said shaft having mounted on each end thereof asupporting or driving wheel 11 freely revoluble thereon. Keyed to theshaft 10 inside of the wheels 11 are the sleeves 12 each provided with aratchet wheel 13 which are adapted to be engaged by the pawls 14 pivotedat 15 to the wheels 11. A curved spring 16 secured to each of the pawls14 is adapted to hold the pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel 13when the machine is in operation and to hold the pawl out of engagementwith the ratchet wheel when it is desired that the cutting apparatusshould not operate. a long cylindrical member 17 interposed between thetwo members 12.

A divided block 18 and 19 is clamped to the member 17 by means of thestaple 20 and the nuts 21 thereon, the parallel ends 22 of said stapleextending through the pole 23 of the machine. This pole is preventedfrom lateral movement by means of the ribs 24 formed upon the part 19 ofthe divided block. The part 19 of the divided block is provided with aforwardly extending projection 25 which is secured to the pole 23 bymeans of the bolt 26 and nut 27 threaded thereto. The bolt 26 and theparallel ends 22 of the staple 20 all extend through the spring arm 28,the outer end of which car- The axle 10 has a bearing in ries the usualseat 29 for the operator. The member 17 at one end is provided with aforwardly extending arm 30 formed integral therewith and terminating ina vertical plate 31, this plate 31 having secured thereto at 32 thebrace rod 33, the opposite end of which extends through a lug 34 formedupon the member 17 near its opposite end. This end of the brace rod 33is threaded and has mounted thereon on either side of said lug 34 thenuts 35 by which the position of the plate 31 may be slightly adjustedto take care of any undue strain brought to bear thereon. The brace rod33 near its connection with the plate 31 is provided with two shoulderedflanges 36 between which is interposed a split sleeve 37 havingforwardly projecting ears to which is pivotally secured a draw rod 38provided at its forward end with ahook 39 to which the usualwhifiietrees 40 are secured. A link 41 supported by an eye 42 mounted inthe pole 23 retains the free end of said draw rod 38 in elevatedposition when the whilfletrees 40 are not in use. On the pole 23 issecured the usual tool box 43 and oil can holder 44 both of which may beof any Well-known construction. The plate 31 is provided with a circularslot 45 through which extends a bolt 46 secured to a second plate 47.The plate 31 is also provided. with a bolt 48 extending through a slot49 in the second plate 47, the two plates being held in contact with oneanother by means of suitable nuts 50 threaded to the outer ends of saidbolts 46 and 48. The plate 31 is also provided with an outwardlyextending circular flange 51 to which the inner edge of the plate 47fits, this circular fiange and the slots 45 and 49 all being concentricso that the plate 47 may be freely movable on said plate 31 in acircular path about a common center 60. This movement of the plate 47 onthe plate 31 is accomplished by means of a link 52 secured to the lug 53formed upon said plate 47, the opposite end of said link 52 beingpivoted at 54 to a suitable hand lever 55 which in turn is pivoted at 56to an upwardly extending arm 57 formed integral with the member 17. Thislever 55 is provided with the usual handeontrolling locking device 58cooperating with ,a fixed notched sector 59 to retain the plate 47 inany position to which it may be adjusted about the center 60 by means ofsaid lever 55. The plate 47 is provided with laterally extendingbifurcated .ears 61 adapted to receive the ears 62 of the finger barsupporting shoe 63, the ears 62 of the shoe 63 being pivotally connectedto the ears 61 by means of the pins 64. The shoe 63 has secured theretothe usual finger bar 65 having mounted thereon the usual fingers orguards 66. Superimposedupon the finger bar 65 is a plate 66* having ateither end upwardly extending ears 67 and 68, each of which has securedthereto in alinement with one another spring buffers 69, each of saidbuffers 69 inclosing a rubber block 70.

The ear 67 is provided with an extension 71 which normally engages theunder side of a perforated lug 72 formed upon a plate 73 slidablymounted upon the outer face of the plate 47 insuch a manner that it maybe readily moved vertically thereon between suitable guide plates 74-.The upper end of the plate 73 is provided with ears 75 in which ispivotally mounted a lever 7 6, to one end of which is pivoted a rod, 77having a cylindrical end 7 8 extending through an opening in the lug 72and normally resting upon the end of the projection 71 from the ear 67.

The lever 76 is connected by a chain 79 to a rocker member 80 mountedupon a stud 31 formed upon the oil can holder To a toe 83 of said rockermember 80 is secured a spring 84, the opposite end of which isadjustably connected at 85 to the pole 23. Extending laterally from therocker member 80 is a lug 86 adapted to be engaged by the pivoted lever87 to move said rocker lever 30 about its pivot 81 to lift the free endof the lever 76 and force the cylindrical end 78 through the opening inthe lug 72 against the face of the projection 71 to cause the finger barto be moved about: the pivot pins 64, thus lifting the finger bar toavoid obstruetions in the path thereof.

The lever 87 is provided with the usual hand-operated locking device 38eotiperating with the fixed notched segment 89 to retain the rockermember 80 in adjusted position. Connected at 90 to the rocker member 80is a link 91 pivoted to the rocker lever 92 pivoted at 93 to a bracket94 superimposed upon the arm 28, said lever 92 being provided with afoot pad 95 by which said rocker member 80 may be moved about its pivot81 to effect a lifting of the finger bar in the manner just described.

The slide 73 is provided with a lug with which the end of the pivotedlever 97 cooperates to retain said sliding member 7 3 in its normalposition or any other position to which it may be desirable to adjustit. The opposite end of the pivoted lever 97 is connected by a link 98to a rocker lever 99 pivoted at 100 to a lug formed upon the Hearingmember 17, the free end of said rocker lever 99 being provided with afoot pad 101 by which the operator may effect a movement of the slide 73when it is desired to do so.

The lever 99 is provided with a tooth 102 engaging with one of aplurality of detents in a fixed segment 103 secured to the hearingmember 17 a spring 104- serving to keep said tooth 102 in engagementuntil the operator by pressure upon the foot pad 101 forces the lever 99laterally against the tension of the spring 104 so as to disengage saidtooth from the detents in the segment 103, thus permitting the fingerbar to assume an inclined position with its outer end lower than itsinner end. This is found desirable when the wheels of the mowing machineare traveling practically on level ground and the finger bar istraveling over ground which slightly falls away, thus permitting an evencut of grass on such sloping ground.

When the ground slopes upwardly and it is desired that the outer end ofthe finger bar should be higher than the inner end, said finger bar maybe raised into such position either by means of an operation of thelever 92 or the hand lever 87 to give the requisite amount of lift tothe outer end of said finger bar. When traveling to the field which itis desired to mow the finger bar is lifted into substantially a verticalposition and is secured in this position by means of the ordinary hook105 engaging with an eye 106 projecting from the finger bar 65. It isobvious, therefore, that through the various mechanisms just describedthe finger bar may be tilted in either direction about a center by amovement of the plate 47 upon the fixed plate 31 or it may be broughtinto an inclined position with its outer end lower than its inner end orits outer end higher than its inner end as may be required. It isbelieved that the advantages of this combination of movement of thefinger bar will be sufiiciently evident from the foregoing withoutfurther description.

Mounted upon the finger bar and traveling through the finger guards 66is a reciprocating knife bar 107 provided with a plurality of cuttingblades 108. To the inner end of the bar 107 is secured a member 109provided with vertical guides 110, the inner opposed faces of which aremade concentric and in these guides is mounted so as to be movedvertically therein a divided block 111, the opposite walls of which aremade cylindrical and fit the concaved guides 110 so that said block 111may be moved slightly in one direction or the other about its verticalaxis. The block 111 has mounted between the two parts thereof so as tobe movable therein in any direction a ball memher 112 provided with acylindrical opening extending diametrically therethrough adapted toreceive a cylindrical stud 113 formed upon the end of a pivoted lever114. A collar 113" is secured to the outer end of the stud 113 toprevent the accidental displacement of the block 111 when the machine isdismembered.

The vertical movement of the block 111 in the guides 110 is limited bymeans of a rod 110* interposed between the outer ends of said guides110. The opposite end of the lever 114 is adapted to receive the outerend of a lateral projection or pivot such as the rocker shaft 115 towhich it is secured by means of a pivot pin 116. The rocker shaft 115 isprovided wlth a bearing in the cylindrical end 117 of the arm 57 formedupon the bearing member 17 The opposite end of the rocker shaft 115 isreduced in diameter, as at 118, and has mounted thereon so as to befreely movable about the axis thereof a sleeve 119 provided with ahandle 120, said sleeve being held in position upon the rocker shaft 115by means of the collar 121 pinned thereto.

The cylindrical member 117 has formed therein a bayonet slot 122provided at one end with the notch 123 and at the other With theshouldered recess 124. The handle 120 is adapted to be moved about theaxis of the rocker shaft 115 and moved longitudinally of the slot 122and into the notch 123 or the shouldered recess 124 to lock the rockershaft 115 either in the position shown in Fig. 12 in full lines, or inthe position shown in said figure in dotted lines. The handle 120 isretained in the notch 123 or in the recess 124 by the spring 120*.

Intermediate its two ends the pivoted lever 114 is provided with tworearwardly projecting members 125 in which are mounted the rollermembers 126 having reduced ends 127 in ears 128 of said rearwardlyextending projections 125 while the other ends of the rollers 126 extendthrough open ings in the pivoted lever 114 and are held in position bymeans of the plate 127 secured to the pivoted lever 114 by the bolt 128.These rollers engage with the substantially parallel radiating zigzagwalls of a revoluble wheel 129 formed upon or secured to one of themembers 12 and fastened by keys or otherwise to the axle 10. Then thepawls 14 are thrown into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 21 inengagement with the ratchet wheels 13 and held in such position by meansof the springs 16, it is obvious that when any forward movement of themachine occurs that the rotation of the driving or supporting wheels 11will cause the ratchet wheels 13 to rotate the axle 10 and cause thezigzag wheel 129 to rotate with the supporting wheels 11. This rotationof the zigzag wheel 129 will cause the radiating walls of said zigzagWheel to act upon the rollers 126 mounted in the projections on thepivoted lever 114 to cause the lever 114 to be swung about its pivot115, said pivot oscillating in its bearing 117 during such swingingmovement.

When either roller 126 passes over one of the points 130 of the zigzagwheel the free end of the pivoted lever 114 will come into contact withone of the spring buffers 6970 and will be given a sudden return impulsewhich will carry it over the point 130 so that a continuous swingingmovement is imparted to the pivoted lever 114. This swinging movement ofthe lever 114; through its universal connection with the knife barcauses the necessary reciprocation of the knife bar through the fingerguards to effect the cutting of the grass in the usual manner.

It is obvious that the universal connection shown between the pivotedlever 114 and the knife bar is such as to provide for the variousinclinations ofthe knife bar in either direction and the various angleswhich the pivoted lever 114 assumes in effecting a reciprocation of saidknife bar. Even when the wheel 129 is re 'olving the reciprocation ofthe knife bar 107 may be stopped by moving the handle 120 about the axisof the rocker shaft 115 and moving it along the bayonet slot 122 andengaging it in the notch 123, this operation causing the rollers 126 tobe moved out of the path of the parallel walls of the zigzag revolublewheel 129, thus preventing the further swinging of the pivoted lever llland stopping further reciprocation of the cutting members.

This makes a very efiective mowing ma chine, simplifying theconstruction by reducing the number of parts and making it moreeffective in operation by concentrating all the operating mechanisms atthe righthand side of the pole so that they can be convenientlymanipulated by the operator either by hand or foot, leaving the lefthand side of the machine entirely free of operating mechanisms so as toprovide easy access to the seat. By locating the zigzag wheel adjacentto the right hand driving wheel a direct universal connection may bemade be tween the pivoted lever operated thereby and the knife bar whichperforms the operation of cutting.

By making the brace rod 83 adjustable any undue strain brought to bearupon the finger bar during the operation of cutting may be compensatedfor by a suitable adjustment of this rod. The provision of means wherebythe finger bar may be readily tilted in either direction and its outerend lowered or raised as desired is a great advantage in a machine ofthis class.

Another great advantage of this machine is the facility with which theknife bar may be drawn in and out of action during the revolution of therevoluble wheel 129, by the simple movement of the handle 120 along thebayonet slot in the bearing 117.

It is believed that from the foregoing the operation and many advantagesof a machine of this construction will be fully apparent withoutfurtherdescription.

Having thus described my inventlon, T claim:

1. In a mowing machine, the combination of a revoluble wheel providedwith substantially parallel radiating zigzag walls; a pivoted lever infront of said wheel; a projection thereon; means for retaining saidprojection in contact with one of said walls; a knife bar; a. universaljoint upon said knife with which said pivoted lever is directlyconnected; and means for moving said lever about said joint to removesaid projection from the path of said walls.

2. In a mowing machine, the combination of a. revoluble wheel providedwith substantially parallel radiating zigzag walls; a pivoted lever infront of said wheel; a projection thereon; means for retaining said projection in contact with one of said walls; knife bar; a universal jointupon said knife bar with which said pivoted lever is directly connected;and means for moving said lever about said joint to remove saidprojection from the path of said walls and locking it in such disengagedposition.

3. In a mowing machine, the combination of a revoluble wheel providedwith substantially parallel radiating zigzag alls; a pivoted lever infront of said wheel provided with members for engaging said walls; aknife bar; a universal joint upon said bar with which said lever isdirectly connected; and means for moving said lever outwardly from theaxis of said wheel about said joint to disengage said members from saidwalls.

4:. In a mowing machine, the combination of a revoluble wheel providedwith a radiating zigzag wall; a pivoted lever in front of said wheelprovided with a member normally engaging said *all; a knife bar; a.universal joint upon said bar with .which said lever is directlyconnected; and means for moving said lever outwardly from the axis ofsaid wheel about said joint to disengage said member from said wall.

5. In a mowing machine, the combination of a revoluble wheel providedwith a radiating zigzag all; an upright lever in front of said wheelhaving a member normally ongaging said wall and provided at its upperend with a lateral projection; a fixed bearing for said projection inwhich it is adapted to oscillate; a knife bar; a universal joint uponsaid bar with which the other end of said lever is directly connected;and means for moving said projection outwardly in its bearing todisengage said wallengaging member from said wall.

(3. In a mowing machine, the combination of a revoluble wheel providedwith a radiating zigzag wall; an upright lever in front of said wheelhaving a member normally engaging said wall and provided at its upperend with a lateral projection; a fixed bearing for said projection inwhich it is adapted to oscillate; a knife bar; a universal joint uponsaid bar with which the other end of said lever engages; and means formoving said projection outwardly in its bearing to disengage said wallengaging member from said wall. and lock it in disengaged position.

7 In a mowing machine, the combination of a revoluble wheel providedwith a radiating zigzag Wall; an upright lever in front of said wheelhaving a member normally engaging said wall and provided at its upperend with a lateral projection; a fixed bearing for said projection inwhich it is adapted to oscillate; a radiating member on said projection;a bayonet slot in said bearing with which said radiating member engages;a knife bar; and a universal. c011- nection between said knife bar andthe other end of said lever.

8. In a mowing machine, the. combination of a revoluble wheel providedwith a radiating zigzag wall; an upright lever in frontof said wheelhaving a member normally engaging said wall and provided at its upperend with a lateral projection; a fixed bearing for said projection inwhich it is adapted to oscillate; a radiating member loosely mounted onsaid projection; a bayonet slot in said bearing with which saidradiating member engages; a knife bar; and a universal connectionbetween said knife bar and the other end of said lever.

9. In a mowing machine the combination of a revoluble wheel providedwith a radiating zigzag wall; an upright lever in front of said Wheelhaving a member normally engaging said wall and provided at its upperend with a lateral projection; a fixed bearing for said projection inwhich it is adapted to oscillate; a radiating member loosely mounted onsaid projection; a bayonet slot in said bearing with which saidradiating member engages; a spring coacting with said radiating member;a knife bar; and a universal connection between said knife bar and theother end of said lever.

10. In a mowing machine, the combination of a revoluble wheel providedwith a radiating zigzag wall; an upright lever in front of said wheelhaving a member normally engaging said wall and provided at its upperend with a lateral projection; a fixed bearing for said projection inwhich it is adapted to oscillate; a radiating member loosely mounted onsaid projection; a bayonet slot in said bearing with which saidradiating member engages; a spring coacting with said radiating member;a knife bar; and a universal connection between said bar and the otherend of said lever.

11. In a mowing machine, the combination of a revoluble wheel providedwith substantially parallel radiating zigzag walls; a knife bar; a leverin front of said wheel pivoted at one end and universally connected atthe other end to said knife bar and provided with projectingmembersintermediate its ends normally engaging said walls; and means for movingsaid lever about said universal connection to disengage said projectingmembers from said walls.

12. In a mowing machine, the combination of a revoluble wheel providedwith sub stantially parallel radiating zigzag walls; a knife bar; alever in front of said wheel pivoted at one end and universallyconnected at the other end to said knife bar and provided withprojecting members intermediate its ends normally engaging said walls;means for moving said lever about said universal connection to disengagesaid project ing members from said walls; and a device for locking saidlever with its projecting members engaged with or disengaged from saidwalls.

Signed by me at Clinton Maine this 20th day of October 1908.

MARTIN J EWELL.

Witnesses:

ALICE O. DODGE, (101m A. DODGE.

